Are Cracks In My Fireplace Dangerous?
Foundation damage comes in all shapes and sizes and from various sources.
In a previous article, we discussed how tree roots cause problems in your home.
In this article, we address another issue you may not associate with foundation problems, answering whether cracks in your fireplace are dangerous.
Let’s get right to it!
Are Fireplace Cracks Dangerous?
Especially in the dead of winter when Jack Frost and Mother Nature conspire to give you the chills, a cozy night in front of the fire is just what the doctor ordered. While a fireplace adds charm, comfort, and a quaint gathering spot to your home, it must be safe.
Any damage, like cracks in your fireplace, can be dangerous, even fatal. Cracks create a fire hazard and heat that can damage your structure. Worse yet, even the most minor fissure can cause toxic gases like carbon monoxide to enter your home, sickening your family and potentially leading to death.
If you notice cracks, stop using the fireplace immediately, do not attempt DIY repairs, and contact an expert for guidance.
Are Fireplace Cracks Connected to Foundation Damage?
Cracks in your fireplace may be indirectly related to foundation issues. Gas and wood-burning fireplaces require chimneys for safety. Damage like cracks and unevenness due to unstable underlying soil can compromise the safety and structural integrity of the chimney. The chimney might also begin separating from the rest of your home, leaning away from it and potentially collapsing.
A chimney is often built on a separate foundation from the rest of the structure, but it is still susceptible to foundation settlement and its effects. Other areas can also fall victim to the same issues.
What to Do Next
In this post, we answered your question about the danger of cracks in your fireplace. Any crack or damage should be taken seriously and repaired as soon as possible.
There’s a lot more to know about foundation problems, so check back for more informative articles.
If your home needs foundation repair services, you can rely on Baker’s Waterproofing for a thorough and free inspection, as well as lasting solutions tailored to your home’s unique needs. Click the button below to get started!
Holly Richards-Purpura
Related Resources
Award-Winning Service
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
From initial consult to the completed project, the whole process was fantastic. When my basement walls started leaking through cracks, I…
From initial consult to the completed project, the whole process was fantastic. When my basement walls started leaking through cracks, I would have never imagined I would be saying such a thing. Baker’s Waterproofing took the time to explain everything to me. I felt extremely comfortable and well informed through every step. Based on all the estimates I got, they are reasonably priced. The team that came to do the job worked diligently and went above and beyond in my opinion. Highly recommend them to everyone!
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
these guys are awesome, got me in within a week, had the job done in 2 days. it was in my salon so i wasn’t out of business long which is…
these guys are awesome, got me in within a week, had the job done in 2 days. it was in my salon so i wasn’t out of business long which is great. they were super quick and needless to say the work is excellent! they walked me through and educated me on everything they were doing, and happily answered any questions i had. everyone was very kind and knowledgeable. Rowdy, Norm and Devon did such a good job. 10/10, looks awesome thank you guys!!
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
Had Aaron Lenker and Corbin Gillenbauer come and level our sidewalk in the rear of our house. They were on time and very friendly and…
Had Aaron Lenker and Corbin Gillenbauer come and level our sidewalk in the rear of our house. They were on time and very friendly and professional. Got to work and explained everything they were doing as they did it. Would recommend them for any of the jobs at our house.
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
John J. and his crew from Philadelphia performed our work here in Cranberry Twp., PA. John, Marlen, Mike and Jim worked non-stop, were…
John J. and his crew from Philadelphia performed our work here in Cranberry Twp., PA. John, Marlen, Mike and Jim worked non-stop, were very concerned about the dirt/debris and cleaned up immaculately when finished. They were professional and polite. I’d highly recommend them !
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
Theron and Roger with Baker’s Waterproofing did an excellent job with my interior French drain and sump pump. We ran into some unknowns…
Theron and Roger with Baker’s Waterproofing did an excellent job with my interior French drain and sump pump. We ran into some unknowns about the house once the digging occurred and they problem solved this immediately and provided very thoughtful solutions. Thanks!!
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
I had push piers put under the foundation of my house and couldn't be more pleased with Baker's Waterproofing Company from beginning to end….
I had push piers put under the foundation of my house and couldn't be more pleased with Baker's Waterproofing Company from beginning to end. I wanted to let you know how pleased I was with Matt and Chacar. They are the BEST workers I have ever seen. They worked diligently and non stop all while they were there. Chacar knew what he was doing and did it well. When he needed guidance from Matt, which was seldom, he did it quickly and without hesitation. Matt is extremely good at his job as Forman. He could be doing one thing while still noticing what the others are doing and correct what needed to be corrected. The work they were doing was very physical but they kept moving and very, very seldom ever took a break. They are also very polite and courteous and cleaned up very well when completed. I truly can't say enough good things about them. You should be extremely proud to have them on your team! I know you probably have many teams that go out to do this work and I hope they are all as good as this team. They set the standard of excellence! Based on this experience, I would definitely recommend Bakers to everyone. Please pass this on to their boss as he should know just how good these two men are, if he already doesn't. I also want to commend you on your job as sales representative (Randy Fonner). You were extremely knowledgeable in what you do, pleasant to work with, and quick to correct any problems. I'm glad we had a chance to meet.
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
I had a problem with a basement wall pushing in… Called Baker’s Waterproofing and they sent out Brad Peterson to give us an estimate on the …
I had a problem with a basement wall pushing in… Called Baker’s Waterproofing and they sent out Brad Peterson to give us an estimate on the job. Surprisingly, they had a crew here the very next day. Cale, Joel, Shay, and Will did a fantastic job inside and out. They dug a 4 foot trench and mounted six wall anchors along the problem wall. They were all polite and professional, and did a great cleanup job before leaving. If you have any type of basement problem, Baker’s is the way to go.
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
Bob was excellent, Professional, and informative. After his thorough structural inspection of our home, he pointed out cracks that we were…
Bob was excellent, Professional, and informative. After his thorough structural inspection of our home, he pointed out cracks that we were unaware of, and remarked on causes of the damage that we were concerned about. My kids heard him talking about “cracks” in our house, and said they didn’t know they “we are living in a crack house”. I laughed so hard, I had to pee. Bob was truly impressive with his structural engineering knowledge and well organized presentation. I am excited to get started our our project and look forward to working with Bob as our project manager.
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
My basement walls had big cracks and were leaning in. I was concerned that I could be looking at collapsed walls in the future. Lucas and…
My basement walls had big cracks and were leaning in. I was concerned that I could be looking at collapsed walls in the future. Lucas and Steven Selleck, Dalton and Maleke Smith took good care of my problem clearly recognizing the actual cause. I had the basement waterproofed by another company 10 years prior. They had failed to install weep holes in the walls and although I no longer had water in the basement the walls were filled with water which was affecting the wall structure. By the time the crew left I had confidence that my walls were secure and water pressure relieved. The crew was professional, knowledgeable and explained what was happening and why. I saw with my own eyes the stream of water coming out of the walls. Now it is repaired and I am so very happy that Bakers waterproofing was the company I called and selected for the job. I feel much relieved. Thank you Bakers Waterproofing!
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
I had a positive experience with Baker Waterproofing. From the time I spent with the person who initially inspected my basement to the work …
I had a positive experience with Baker Waterproofing. From the time I spent with the person who initially inspected my basement to the work done by the crew. I was kept informed of their progress and any questions I had were answered. I am totally impressed with their work and the results and will definitely recommend Bakers Waterproofing given the opportunity.
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
I am very pleased with the work that Cale, Shay, and Joel from Baker's Waterproofing did in my basement. I appreciated the phone call when …
I am very pleased with the work that Cale, Shay, and Joel from Baker's Waterproofing did in my basement. I appreciated the phone call when they were on their way and was kept updated with the process throughout the day. They did a great job cleaning up and making sure any questions were answered. They each get 5 stars!
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
The crew: Chuck, James, Tyree, and Jeremy C. arrived promptly at 8 and didn’t leave until 7:30 until the job was finished. Everything was …
The crew: Chuck, James, Tyree, and Jeremy C. arrived promptly at 8 and didn’t leave until 7:30 until the job was finished. Everything was explained and the crew chief took time to call in the the manager to iron out some unforeseen problems. They didn’t even take a lunch break! Everyone was courteous and considerate of my home and I am very satisfied with their work!
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
Tyree and Hayden did an excellent job regarding the concrete repair we had requested. They were very professional and efficient in…
Tyree and Hayden did an excellent job regarding the concrete repair we had requested. They were very professional and efficient in performing the needed repair. Very happy with the results!
- 4/
- 4/
- 4/
- 4/
- 4/
Brandon,Kenny, and **** did a great job. They came in November of 2021. We have had several severe storms and through it all no water came…
Brandon,Kenny, and **** did a great job. They came in November of 2021. We have had several severe storms and through it all no water came into my basement. It is good not to have to use the shop vac anymore, and not to have to throw things out do to water damage.
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
The whole team was very professional and knowledgeable. This started with the initial consultation and continued with the crew that…
The whole team was very professional and knowledgeable. This started with the initial consultation and continued with the crew that performed the work.
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
Sorry, I'm really bad with names, but the two workers that came to my house to fix cracks on my porch and raise concrete slabs to level,…
Sorry, I'm really bad with names, but the two workers that came to my house to fix cracks on my porch and raise concrete slabs to level, they were awesome, professional and respected my concerns and property.Great job Bakers Waterproofing…
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
The men were very professional. Would hire them again. Clean, had a great system. Chris Snyder, Evan Fry, Frank Diebler. Great team
The men were very professional. Would hire them again. Clean, had a great system. Chris Snyder, Evan Fry, Frank Diebler. Great team
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
Great company to work with. They truly care about their customers!
Great company to work with. They truly care about their customers!
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
Would definitely recommend Lukas Selleck, Jason Schaeffer, and Dean Hollenbach. Not only did the team do a wonderful job, I enjoyed having …
Would definitely recommend Lukas Selleck, Jason Schaeffer, and Dean Hollenbach. Not only did the team do a wonderful job, I enjoyed having them at my home. They went above and beyond. Thanks guys!! 💖
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
- 5/
They came, they saw, they conquered my crawl space! Bob was awesome—super friendly, professional, and quick to respond. The guys were…
They came, they saw, they conquered my crawl space! Bob was awesome—super friendly, professional, and quick to respond. The guys were polite & worked efficiently. It was a tight squeeze. It wasn’t the cheapest option, but the work was top quality and totally worth it. The financing made it easy, too. What a relief to have the crawl space encapsulated knowing that the humidity & air will be controlled. Highly recommend Baker’s Waterproofing!
Publish Date:
Last Modified Date:
Our Locations
3819 N Susquehanna Trail
Shamokin Dam, PA 17876
922 North 3rd Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102
701 North Hermitage Rd, Suite 25,
Hermitage, PA 16148
5 Industrial Road, Building B
Washington, PA 15301
201 Penn Center Blvd Suite 400
Wilkins Township, PA 15235
800 E King St, Suite 518
York, PA 17402